AUBG hosts the Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe (SISECSE), a two-week residential workshop providing scholars of Eastern Europe with time and space to dedicate to their research and writing in a collaborative and interdisciplinary setting. In partnership with the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS), American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) convenes leading scholars from Eastern Europe and North America for a two-week residency in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.

In 2024, discussions will explore “The Humanities and Interpretive Social Sciences in a Time of Emergency, or Thinking Urgently.” During periods of crisis, such as natural disasters, violent conflicts, or global pandemics, the humanities provide critical insights and new perspectives that contribute to our understanding of the human condition, offer solace and reflection, and help us navigate uncertainty. Participants will consider diverse questions: How do the humanities or interpretive social sciences help us make sense of crises and the challenges they present? In what ways can humanistic research foster resilience, empathy, and collective action? How can humanistic scholarship inform policy-making and decision-making processes during emergencies? What distinct perspectives do different fields and disciplines offer?